Keeping a tidy house is a constant struggle for me. I do my best, but I’m always looking for cleaning shortcuts like these to make life a little bit easier. Here are a few quick and easy tips I’ve learned that help keep your kitchen looking great with very minimal effort.
Keeping the Refrigerator Shelves Clean
When you’ve got kids reaching into your refrigerator every day, you’re bound to get some spills here and there. To make cleanup fast and easy, line the shelves with Glad Press ‘n Seal wrap. When spills happen, just remove the wrap and add a new layer.
Clean Your Oven While You Sleep
I really wish I had a personal cleaning fairy, but this trick may be as close as I’ll ever get. Fill a bowl with 1/2 cup ammonia and place inside your oven overnight (make sure your oven is completely cool when you do this). The gasses will do their work so that you can wipe your oven clean in the morning with minimal elbow grease.
Keeping the Oven (and Other Things) Clean
Lillian Vernon makes a reusable oven liner you can use to catch spills in the oven (you can also find them on Amazon.com). You can also use an old toothbrush to clean that groove on flat top oven surfaces where grime accumulates.
Microwave Cleaning Shortcuts
Thoroughly soak a washcloth or sponge. Place it in the middle of your microwave and turn on for two minutes on high. The steamy vapors will work wonders on that icky, stuck-on gunk. Using an oven mitt grab the sponge (it will be REALLY hot) and use it to wipe the sides of the microwave clean.
Get Your Kids to Help with Cleaning
When it comes to chores, delegate! I am a big believer in having the kids pitch in with their fair share of household chores. Not only will it lessen your load and free up more of your time to have fun with the family, you’ll be teaching them responsibility at the same time. To avoid nagging, I created chore charts for my kids and laminated them. That way, they know what is expected of them and can check their tasks off when they’ve been completed.
If you’ve got cleaning shortcuts of your own to share, let me know! Visit our Cleaning Products Reviews to leave feedback on the products you love or would never use again.
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I placed my coffee maker next to my sink, so when I need to fill it with water to make coffee, I use the hose from my sink! This is also helpful when I’m cleaning it. I fill it mostly with water & then add ¼ cup of white vinegar & run it, turn it off, empty the pot into my sink (which helps to clean the sink) & then run water through a couple more times. Sparkly clean!
I’ve read that it’s unsafe to line your oven with foil.
Is there a reason?
I used to use tin foil on the bottom of my oven, but then I burned out the element twice on one stove and the repair man said it was the tinfoil. Now I bought a reusable liner from Lillian Vernon and when there are spills, take it out, clean it and put it back in
I fill a microwave safe bowl with 2 cups of got water and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. I put it in my dirty microwave for two minutes and let it sit for 5 after it beeps and the food and grime wipe right off with a paper towel. No chemicals and no hard scrubbing. Doesn’t get any easier than that.
Great idea for the fride shelves-I love press n seal and buy it anyway, so this is another great use for it! Appreciate the idea! I do use aluminum foil to line my baking sheets for easy clean up and use them also as spill catchers for casseroles, pies, etc. Place the casserole on top of the lined pan, then just throw the foil away, quick wipe of the pan and helps the oven stay clean. One idea I had read in a magazine once was to start your cleaning routine by spraying your product of choice first, then walk away for 10 minutes or so and get something else done. This gives the product time to work and you only have to do a wipe down-love microfiber cloths for this-no scrubbing or elbow grease needed!
Another great idea to line refrigerator shelves is plastic or vinyl placemats. When they get dirty, wash and replace. The press n seal idea is great too, but the placemats are reusable. You buy them once and keep using. Press n seal runs out and you have to buy more.